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Posted on Thu, Jan 24, 2013 : 6 a.m.

U.S. Churches: Where will our electic tastes carry us?

By Wayne Baker

ASTROLOGY is popular. One in five Americans believe in the idea.

Editor's note: This post is part of a series by Dr. Baker on Our Values about core American values. This week Dr. Baker is discussing U.S churches.

Churches remain a dominant institution in America, despite a rising number of Americans who say they don’t have a religious affiliation. Both the religiously unaffiliated and affiliated believe churches do a lot of good. Large majorities of both groups say that churches bring people together and strengthen community bonds, according to a Pew poll last year. Large majorities also say the churches play an important role helping the needy and the poor.

Today, we consider the increase in eclectic beliefs and practices, the long-term effects of which remain to be seen. Over one-third of churchgoers attend services in more than one church. One in four attends services in different faiths, according to another Pew survey. More than one in five Christians believe in astrology, reincarnation, and spiritual energy in trees and nature. Seventeen percent believe in in the “evil eye” (casting curses on others).

In some ways, this eclecticism seems quite American—as the nation is a mix of peoples and beliefs, so too are American religions. By the same token, could rising eclecticism erode the religious foundation of the church? Can organized religion co-exist with the mix-and-match tendencies of the American people.